Biochemical Blood Parameters of Kalmyk Bull Calves with Obvious or Blurred Signs of Laminitis

Abstract

Relevance. In conditions of intensive fattening of cattle, especially in the meat sector, lesions associated with a violation of the integrity of the hoof horn structures are often found. The heavy weight of the cattle and the limited movement result in excessive stress on the limbs, which leads to the destruction of the deep layers of the hoof dermis. Moreover, nutritional deficiencies affect the digestibility of nutritional components, the lack of trace elements and the deterioration of hoof horn production. The complex of all these factors triggers a chain of pathologies collectively known as laminitis. Many cases of this disease in dairy cows kept indoors have vague signs and are not always recorded by veterinarians. Frequently, there is a lack in a systematic study and registration of disease cases, based on a comprehensive analysis of anamnestic data, the clinical picture and, in particular, the study of the biochemical characteristics of the blood.
The aim of the study was to make a comparative assessment of two groups of animals (healthy and with laminitis), to study and record the characteristic changes in the blood biochemistry of Kalmyk bull calves with laminitis with obvious or vague signs.
Methods. We conducted a comparative assessment of the biochemical parameters of blood serum from healthy and laminitic Kalmyk bull calves aged 9-11 months. Blood serum biochemical tests were performed on all animals.
The results showed that laminitis in cattle increased the concentration of total serum protein, C-reactive protein, total bilirubin, as well as increased AST and ALT, slightly increased creatinine and urea, while the indicators of albumin, glucose, calcium, phosphorus decreased. 
Conclusions. The data obtained made it possible to correlate the ongoing biochemical changes in the body of the observed Kalmyk bull calves with the pathological changes occurring in the body.